Opening
To Serapion, concerning the death of Arius.
To Serapion, concerning the death of Arius.
Athanasius to Serapion, a brother and fellow minister, greetings in the Lord.
Athanasius to Serapion, a brother and fellow-minister, health in the Lord.
I have read your thoughtful letters, in which you asked me to tell you about the events of my life and times, to explain that most ungodly heresy of the Arians—because of which I have suffered these things—and also to describe how Arius died. I have readily agreed to two of your three requests and have sent to your Godliness what I wrote to the monks. From that you will be able to learn both my own story and the story of the heresy. But regarding the third matter—I mean his death—I hesitated for a long time, worried that someone might think I was rejoicing over that man's death. However, since a debate has arisen among you about the heresy and has led to this question: Did Arius die after first being received back into communion with the Church? I felt it necessary to give an account of his death, thinking this would settle the question and also silence those who love to argue. For I believe that when the remarkable circumstances of his death become known, even those who doubted before will no longer dare to question that the Arian heresy is hateful in God's sight.
I have read the letters of your piety, in which you have requested me to make known to you the events of my times relating to myself, and to give an account of that most impious heresy of the Arians, in consequence of which I have endured these sufferings, and also of the manner of the death of Arius. With two out of your three demands I have readily undertaken to comply, and have sent to your Godliness what I wrote to the Monks; from which you will be able to learn my own history as well as that of the heresy. But with respect to the other matter, I mean the death, I debated with myself for a long time, fearing lest any one should suppose that I was exulting in the death of that man. But yet, since a disputation which has taken place among you concerning the heresy, has issued in this question, whether Arius died after previously communicating with the Church; I therefore was necessarily desirous of giving an account of his death, as thinking that the question would thus be set at rest, considering also that by making this known I should at the same time silence those who are fond of contention. For I conceive that when the wonderful circumstances connected with his death become known, even those who before questioned it will no longer venture to doubt that the Arian heresy is hateful in the sight of God.
I was not at Constantinople when he died, but Macarius the Presbyter was, and I heard the account from him. Arius had been invited by the Emperor Constantine through the influence of Eusebius and his associates. When he entered the emperor's presence, the emperor asked him whether he held the faith of the Catholic Church. He declared under oath that he held the right faith and submitted a written account of his faith, leaving out the points for which he had been expelled from the Church by Bishop Alexander and cleverly citing expressions from the Scriptures. When he swore that he did not profess the opinions for which Alexander had excommunicated him, the emperor dismissed him, saying, "If your faith is right, you have done well to swear; but if your faith is impious and you have sworn, may God judge you according to your oath." When he left the emperor's presence, Eusebius and his associates, with their usual violence, wanted to bring him into the Church. But Alexander, the Bishop of Constantinople of blessed memory, opposed them, saying that the inventor of the heresy should not be admitted to communion. At this, Eusebius and his associates made threats, declaring, "Just as we have caused him to be invited by the emperor against your wishes, so tomorrow, even though it is against your desire, Arius shall have communion with us in this Church." It was the Sabbath when they said this.
2. I was not at Constantinople when he died, but Macarius the Presbyter was, and I heard the account of it from him. Arius had been invited by the Emperor Constantine, through the interest of Eusebius and his fellows; and when he entered the presence the Emperor enquired of him, whether he held the Faith of the Catholic Church? And he declared upon oath that he held the right Faith, and gave in an account of his Faith in writing, suppressing the points for which he had been cast out of the Church by the Bishop Alexander, and speciously alleging expressions out of the Scriptures. When therefore he swore that he did not profess the opinions for which Alexander had excommunicated him, [the Emperor] dismissed him, saying, 'If your Faith be right, you have done well to swear; but if your Faith be impious, and you have sworn, God judge of you according to your oath.' When he thus came forth from the presence of the Emperor, Eusebius and his fellows, with their accustomed violence, desired to bring him into the Church. But Alexander, the Bishop of Constantinople of blessed memory, resisted them, saying that the inventor of the heresy ought not to be admitted to communion; whereupon Eusebius and his fellows threatened, declaring, 'As we have caused him to be invited by the Emperor, in opposition to your wishes, so tomorrow, though it be contrary to your desire, Arius shall have communion with us in this Church.' It was the Sabbath when they said this.
When Bishop Alexander heard this, he was deeply distressed. He went into the church and stretched out his hands to God, lamenting. He threw himself face down in the sanctuary and prayed, lying on the floor. Macarius was also present and prayed with him, hearing his words. Alexander pleaded for two things, saying, "If Arius is admitted to communion tomorrow, let me your servant die, and do not destroy the godly along with the ungodly. But if you will spare your Church (and I know that you will spare it), look upon the words of Eusebius and his associates, and do not give your inheritance to destruction and disgrace, and remove Arius. Otherwise, if he enters the Church, the heresy may also seem to enter with him, and from then on impiety will be considered piety." After the Bishop prayed this way, he left in great anxiety. Then a wonderful and extraordinary thing happened. While Eusebius and his associates made threats, the Bishop prayed. But Arius, who had great confidence in Eusebius and his associates and spoke very recklessly, was compelled by bodily necessity to withdraw. Suddenly, in the language of Scripture, "falling headlong he burst asunder in the midst," and immediately died as he lay there, losing both communion and his life at the same time.
3. When the Bishop Alexander heard this, he was greatly distressed, and entering into the church, he stretched forth his hands unto God, and bewailed himself; and casting himself upon his face in the chancel, he prayed, lying upon the pavement. Macarius also was present, and prayed with him, and heard his words. And he besought these two things, saying, 'If Arius is brought to communion tomorrow, let me Your servant depart, and destroy not the pious with the impious; but if You will spare Your Church (and I know that You will spare), look upon the words of Eusebius and his fellows, and give not your inheritance to destruction and reproach Joel 2:17, and take off Arius, lest if he enter into the Church, the heresy also may seem to enter with him, and henceforward impiety be accounted for piety.' When the Bishop had thus prayed, he retired in great anxiety; and a wonderful and extraordinary circumstance took place. While Eusebius and his fellows threatened, the Bishop prayed; but Arius, who had great confidence in Eusebius and his fellows, and talked very wildly, urged by the necessities of nature withdrew, and suddenly, in the language of Scripture, 'falling headlong he burst asunder in the midst Acts 1:18,' and immediately expired as he lay, and was deprived both of communion and of his life together.
This was how Arius met his end. Eusebius and his associates, overwhelmed with shame, buried their companion, while the blessed Alexander, amid the rejoicing of the Church, celebrated the Communion with devotion and orthodoxy, praying with all the brothers and greatly glorifying God—not because he was celebrating Arius's death (God forbid!), for "it is appointed unto all men once to die," but because this event had been revealed in a way that went beyond human judgment. For the Lord Himself, judging between the threats of Eusebius and his companions and the prayer of Alexander, condemned the Arian heresy, showing it to be unworthy of communion with the Church and making clear to everyone that even if it receives the support of the Emperor and all humanity, it stands condemned by the Church herself. So the antichristian gang of the Arian madmen has been shown to be displeasing to God and impious, and many of those who had previously been deceived by it changed their minds. For none other than the Lord Himself, who was blasphemed by them, condemned the heresy that rose up against Him, and again showed that however much the Emperor Constantius may now use violence against the Bishops on its behalf, it is still excluded from the communion of the Church and alien from the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, let the question that has arisen among you now be settled (for this was the agreement made among you), and let no one join himself to the heresy, but let even those who have been deceived repent. For who will accept what the Lord condemned? And will not anyone who takes up the support of what He has excommunicated be guilty of great impiety and clearly an enemy of Christ?
4. Such has been the end of Arius: and Eusebius and his fellows, overwhelmed with shame, buried their accomplice, while the blessed Alexander, amidst the rejoicings of the Church, celebrated the Communion with piety and orthodoxy, praying with all the brethren, and greatly glorifying God, not as exulting in his death (God forbid!), for 'it is appointed unto all men once to die Hebrews 9:27,' but because this thing had been shown forth in a manner transcending human judgments. For the Lord Himself judging between the threats of Eusebius and his fellows, and the prayer of Alexander, condemned the Arian heresy, showing it to be unworthy of communion with the Church, and making manifest to all, that although it receive the support of the Emperor and of all mankind, yet it was condemned by the Church herself. So the antichristian gang of the Arian madmen has been shown to be unpleasing to God and impious; and many of those who before were deceived by it changed their opinions. For none other than the Lord Himself who was blasphemed by them condemned the heresy which rose up against Him, and again showed that howsoever the Emperor Constantius may now use violence to the Bishops in behalf of it, yet it is excluded from the communion of the Church, and alien from the kingdom of heaven. Wherefore also let the question which has arisen among you be henceforth set at rest; (for this was the agreement made among you), and let no one join himself to the heresy, but let even those who have been deceived repent. For who shall receive what the Lord condemned? And will not he who takes up the support of that which He has made excommunicate, be guilty of great impiety, and manifestly an enemy of Christ?
Now this is enough to refute those who love arguments. Therefore, read it to those who previously raised this question, along with what was briefly written to the monks against the heresy, so that they may be led even more strongly to condemn the impiety and wickedness of the Arian madmen. However, do not agree to give a copy of these writings to anyone, and do not copy them for yourself (I have given the same instruction to the monks as well). But as a true friend, if anything is missing from what I have written, add it and send them back to me immediately. You will be able to learn from the letter I have written to the brothers how much effort it has cost me to write this, and also to understand that it is not safe for the writings of a private individual to be made public (especially if they deal with the highest and most important doctrines), for this reason: what is imperfectly expressed due to weakness or unclear language might harm the reader. For most people do not consider the faith or the intention of the writer, but either through envy or a contentious spirit, they receive what is written as they themselves choose, according to an opinion they have already formed, and they misinterpret it to suit their own pleasure. But may the Lord grant that the Truth and a sound faith in our Lord Jesus Christ may prevail among everyone, and especially among those to whom you read this. Amen.
5. Now this is sufficient to confound the contentious; read it therefore to those who before raised this question, as well as what was briefly addressed to the Monks against the heresy, in order that they may be led thereby more strongly to condemn the impiety and wickedness of the Arian madmen. Do not however consent to give a copy of these to any one, neither transcribe them for yourself (I have signified the same to the Monks also); but as a sincere friend, if anything is wanting in what I have written, add it, and immediately send them back to me. For you will be able to learn from the letter which I have written to the Brethren, what pains it has cost me to write it, and also to perceive that it is not safe for the writings of a private person to be published (especially if they relate to the highest and chief doctrines), for this reason — lest what is imperfectly expressed through infirmity or the obscurity of language, do hurt to the reader. For the majority of men do not consider the faith, or the aim of the writer, but either through envy or a spirit of contention, receive what is written as themselves choose, according to an opinion which they have previously formed, and misinterpret it to suit their pleasure. But the Lord grant that the Truth and a sound faith in our Lord Jesus Christ may prevail among all, and especially among those to whom you read this. Amen.